Report is prepared by UNESCO in collaboration with OECD and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

• It analysed the economic and societal cost of educational deficiencies for the first time.

Key Findings

• Out-of-school children and educational gaps cost the global economy $10,000 billion annually.
  • Around 250 million children and young people globally remain out of school despite decades of effort.
• 57 % of the world’s children have not gained basic skill levels.
• Each year of secondary education reduces the risk of girls marrying and having a child before age 18.
  • Female early school leavers are linked to a 59% increase in early pregnancies. 
• Reducing early school leavers or those without basic skills by 10% could boost annual GDP growth by 1 to 2% points.

Recommendations

• Improve school infrastructure, including providing single-sex water and sanitation facilities, reducing class sizes, etc. 
  • Report highlighted that in India, construction of toilets decreased girls’ dropout rate by 12% points and that of boys by 11% points. 
• Promoting health and mental well-being of students through comprehensive sexuality education.
• Promoting vocational education and training that meets labour market needs and addresses gender barriers to participation.